Can optical brighteners affect my family's health?
Many times, skin rashes commonly blamed on fragrance and dyes are actually caused by optical brighteners, so these detergents should not be used by individuals with sensitive skin. Eye irritation can also occur. Brightening agents "bind irreversibly to the skin" (reference.com), and while this has not been shown to negatively affect health, it has also not been proven safe. There is simply not enough information available to determine whether these brighteners are safe to use over long periods of time.
What are the environmental ramifications of using optical brighteners?
Optical whiteners contain chemicals that can be toxic to fish and other animal and plant life. Many have also been shown to cause mutations in bacteria (seventhgeneration.com). In addition, these chemicals are not readily biodegradable, so pollution remains in waste water for long periods of time, negatively affecting water quality and animal and plant life.
Which detergents contain optical brighteners, and which ones don't?
Many of the most popular laundry detergents contain some form of optical brighteners, and while this fact is often apparent on the label, this is not always the case. Some detergents containing optical brighteners include All liquid, Arm & Hammer liquid, Dreft, Gain, Purex, and Tide. A few of the popular detergents that do not contain these chemicals are All powder, Allens Naturally, Cheer (all versions), Seventh Generation, and Woolite (pinstripesandpolkadots.com). For a more inclusive list, please visit http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchart.htm. A good rule of thumb is that if a detergent claims to be biodegradable, it probably does not contain optical brightening agents
Optical brighteners are not effective unless they remain on the fabric after washing. Clothes washed in detergents containing these agents will have a chemical residue left behind on the fabric. This is why line-dried clothing often feels stiff unless fluffed in the dryer. Clothing laundered in detergent without optical whiteners will feel soft right off the line.